mimic
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to imitate or copy in action, speech, etc., often playfully or derisively.
- Synonyms:
- counterfeit, simulate, impersonate, mock, follow
-
to imitate in a servile or unthinking way; ape.
-
to be an imitation of; simulate; resemble closely.
noun
-
a person who mimics, especially a performer skilled in mimicking others.
-
a copy or imitation of something.
-
a performer in a mime.
adjective
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imitating or copying something, often on a smaller scale.
a mimic battle.
- Synonyms:
- mock
-
apt at or given to imitating; imitative; simulative.
verb
-
to imitate (a person, a manner, etc), esp for satirical effect; ape
known mainly for his ability to mimic other singers
-
to take on the appearance of; resemble closely
certain flies mimic wasps
-
to copy closely or in a servile manner
noun
-
a person or an animal, such as a parrot, that is clever at mimicking
-
an animal that displays mimicry
adjective
-
of, relating to, or using mimicry; imitative
-
simulated, make-believe, or mock
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has mimickedperfect 3rd person singular
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have mimickedperfect
-
have been mimickingperfect progressive
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mimickingparticiple
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is mimickingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
mimicssingular 3rd person
-
am mimickingprogressive 1st person singular
-
has been mimickingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are mimickingprogressive
Past
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had mimickedperfect
-
had been mimickingperfect progressive
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were mimickingprogressive plural
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was mimickingprogressive singular
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mimickedparticiple
-
mimickedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of mimic
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin mīmicus, from Greek mīmikós; equivalent to mime + -ic
Explanation
A mimic is someone who is good at imitating others. A gifted mimic might be able to imitate one president after another just by minimally changing facial expression and manner of speaking. Mimic, related to mime ("an entertainer who performs using gestures not speech"), can be traced back to the Greek mimeisthai, "to imitate." Usually when you mimic someone, you imitate them in order to make fun of them. Performers mimic famous people to get laughs, but ordinary people mimic others when they are angry at them. Who hasn't mimicked parents or a boss who has said no one too many times?!
Vocabulary lists containing mimic
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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Instead of "Said": Words That Sound Like What They Mean
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And while Avast’s website is light on technical details, OpenVPN, IPsec, and Mimic use AES-256, which is deemed secure and is pretty much the industry standard.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026
Webb and screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson had two options: Mimic the 1937 cartoon shot for shot and be slammed for the craven inessentiality of such an exercise, or change anything and face fans’ wrath.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2025
For most of Facebook’s history, its executives have executed a tried-and-true playbook: Mimic the success of others.
From New York Times • Jul. 21, 2022
The Mimic Tear Ashes is obtained toward the last third of the game.
From The Verge • Mar. 17, 2022
The Australian Bushmen Mimic the leaping of calves, the antics of the baboon, and the buzzing of swarms of bees.
From A History of Pantomime by Broadbent, R. J.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
